Agent: Anthony loves NY, wants to explore options

By BRIAN MAHONEY - AP Basketball Writer

June 23, 2014

AP Photo/Seth Wenig

Caption

FILE - In this March 19, 2014, file photo, New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony, left, tries to move around Indiana Pacers' Paul George during the first half of an NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York. Two people with knowledge of the details say that Anthony has informed the Knicks he intends to become a free agent.

NEW YORK (AP) — Carmelo Anthony "loves being a Knick" but is headed for free agency because he wants to explore his options, his agent says.

Leon Rose also says that Anthony loves New York and its fans. The All-Star forward had a Monday deadline to terminate the final year of his contract and had informed the team he would do so.

Anthony would have earned $23.3 million next season had he chose to play out the final year of his deal. Knicks president Phil Jackson had told Anthony it may be a good idea to consider that, but Anthony had repeatedly said his preference was to become a free agent this summer, and he told Jackson that during a recent meeting in Los Angeles.